An ester is a type of organic molecule that is formed by the reaction of an acid (usually a carboxylic acid) and an alcohol. It consists of a carbon atom bonded to an oxygen atom, a carbon atom bonded to a hydroxyl (-OH) group, and a third carbon atom that is bonded to an alkane (a hydrocarbon chain). The formula for an ester typically looks like R-CO-OR’, where R and R’ are the hydrocarbon chains from the acid and alcohol that reacted to form the ester. Esters are commonly used as fragrances, flavorings, and solvents, and they play important roles in many biological processes.
